Flying Spaghetti Monster joins Festivus Pole and atheist signs in Florida Capitol.

Of course, when their natural impulse emotions conflict with the bullshit, they won't admit it's non-belief, they call it "wavering in faith", or "my faith is being tested".
Humans can always come up with a bullshit code-language to deceive themselves.

"Mirth before reverence"

Huh? Jesus, you do love to try to spin things, don't you?

Yes, the minimum a "real", religion needs, is a sincere con-man who wants lots of money, and pre-teen sex with multiple partners.
That's so much better.

They could have at least sprung for some real spaghetti instead of shredded paper.

Damn shame too...

I think it is important to note the difference between mocking religious displays and mocking the installation of religious displays on public property and the implied support that comes along with it.

why can't we just celebrate both forms of mockery in equal abundance?

well, at least there's one admission that atheism has itself become a religion.

Because then you end up with swastikas on synagogues and cemeteries desecrated, because the lowest common denominator doesn't know where the line is drawn.

Ah, here's where the fun begins.

perhaps, but that type is already burning crosses somewhere anyway.

Sorry to disappoint.
Not biting the hook.
The rest of you, knock yourselves out.

ain't I a stinker?

of course not. you have no argument in the face of your own coreligionist's admission.
the sacred secret is out, ye worshippers of the cult of hitchens!

How so?

right there in the bolded part.

I'm not seeing it. Please explain how the statement in any way translates to atheism being a religion. Did you also take from that statement that atheism is a political party?

I'm pretty sure that the milestone in question was a triumph of atheism against politics and religion.

how did you manage to snip teh part with the bold after i referred specifically to the bolded part? Dayton moment?

anyway,
In August 2013, a student at Texas Tech University got approval to wear a pasta strainer on his head in his driver's license photo. The student, Eddie Castillo, said, "You might think this is some sort of a gag or prank by a college student, but thousands, including myself, see it as a political and religious milestone for all atheists everywhere."

looks pretty much like he's claiming it as religious headgear, as have the examples in other countries. If it's irreligious headgear, then it's just a hat.

I saw it, I'm just not seeing how it makes atheism a religion.

First off, you seem to conflaiting Pastafarianism with atheism.

Secondly, 'political and religious milestone' So if that makes you think atheism is a religion, does it also make you think atheism is a political party as well?

It's a parody religion, you mental midget.

Drinking again?

Nope, not that that would matter nor is it any of your business. Just like you're in no position to claim which religions are legit or not. If someone claims that's their religion, as happened in this case, then that is that and you're the mental midget (as well as a piece of crap) for claiming you get to be the arbiter of other people's religion. That's true no matter which religion we're talking about.

Yup, drinking again.

Well, if Pastafarianism does have true believers, then I'd say it's a religion and more power to them.

Furthermore, I think the idea that a parody religion could make the jump to true religion is fascinating as hell.

I'm not, the pastafarian in the article does. As does the guy who came up with it.

Nope. But as atheists claim their rights under the same freedom of (from) religion as the, er, religious do, they do have the political rights of a religion.

$cientology?